The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has received a fresh set of documents from the Ministry of Defence related to the Rs. 3600 crore AgustaWestland chopper deal

The CBI, which is to begin the questioning of suspects from next week over alleged kickbacks paid in India in connection with the copter deal, was yesterday provided with a new set of documents.

CBI sources said the investigating agency had asked the Defence Ministry to provide files related to changes made in the helicopters parameters that suited Italian company Finmeccanica and its subsidiary supplier AgustaWestland.

Sources further revealed that an investigating team of the CBI is in touch with the officials of the Defence Ministry, who have been asked to produce these files at the earliest.

The CBI has so far named 11 people, including former Air Force chief S. P. Tyagi, and his three cousins in its preliminary enquiry into the AgustaWestland deal for 12 VVIP helicopters.

The CBI team has registered the preliminary enquiry on the basis of some important documents obtained from the Italian probe agencies into the alleged payment of kickbacks by AgustaWestland in India to bag the Rs. 3,600-crore deal, and a full-fledged case would be registered once the it finds sufficient evidence.

Sources further said the CBI is also planning to take help from the Income Tax (IT) Department and Accounts Officers of the Defence Ministry in the investigation.

The Defence Ministry had earlier threatened to cancel the deal and sought a CBI probe after the CEO of AgustaWestland's parent company, Finmeccanica, was arrested in Italy for paying bribes. (ANI)